Apparatus for casting pottery ware



Oct. 13, 1925. 1,557,372

4 E, s. LEA v I APPARATUS FOR CASTING POTTERY WARE Filed Nov. 12. 1924 3 She ets-Sheet 1 W71.

""IIII I [[HHH Oct. 13 1925. 1,557,372

E; S. LEA

APPARATUS FOR CASTING POTTERY WARE Filed Nov. 12, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 1,- ill:

E. S. LEA

APPARATUS FOR CASTING POTTERY WARE Fil ed Nov. 1.2, 1924 s Sheets-Sheet 5 PatentedOct. 13, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT orflcs.

. EDWARD S. LEA, OF MORRISVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TOGARRIER ENGI- NEERING CORPORATION, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

Application filed November 12, 1924. Serial No. 749,492.

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, EDWARD S. Lee, a citizen of the United States, residing at Morrisville, in the county of Bucks and State of Pennsylvania, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Casting Pottery Ware; and I do hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The invention relates to apparatus for casting pottery ware from slip, more particularly relatively flat pieces of large size,

such, for example, as the tops of flush tanks, inwhich latter aspect the invention maybe regarded as supplementary to the apparatus disclosed in a companion application, Serial No. 749,491, filed of even date herewith, the

,present invention comprising aseries of matched mold sections of porous material, preferably of standard form, permanently mounted upon a suitable support, preferably a' suspension truck, so that the component parts of the mold may be brought into accurate registry for the casting operations,

and separated for the drying and condition-.

ing operations, without separating the mold parts from the truck and without dissociating the elements of the individual molds, in substantially the same manner-as disclosed in the copending application aforesaid, the

present apparatus lnvolving certain novel combinations and arrangements of parts to adapt it to the particular object in View, as will be more-fully explained in the following specification, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which -lFig. 1 is a front elevation of a typical truck provided with eight tank cover molds, the mold part-s of each set being shown in separated relation.

. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan view of the means for supporting and mounting the lower mold sections.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of two mold sections.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view, broken away in part to illustrate the mode of mounting the supporting shaft of the upper mold section in the latter.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a bracket attachment.

Although the particular apparatus illustrated in the drawings is equipped with a standard form of two part mold for the casting of covers ofwater closet flush tanks, from slip, it will be understood that the par- .ticular mold is only exemplary and that the apparatus is adapted to operate with molds for casting other forms of pottery ware, which molds include two mating sections, adapted to be brought into proper registry and locked in such position during the casting and preliminary drying operations and separated and held in separated relation during the secondary drying of the casting, the reconditioning of the mold parts and the dumping of the casting.

Referring to the drawings, 1 indicates a generally rectangular frame, whibh may be conveniently constructed of channel bars with a central longitudinal bar 2, all of'the elements of the frame being connected together by electric welding. The rectangular frame constitutes the supporting truck for the mold elements and is supported from an overhead rail by suit-ably wheeled brackets or trolleys 10, which may be of any stand,-

ard or preferred form, to enable the truck to be moved from place to place in the factory or pottery, as the various operations incident to the fabrication of cast pottery ware are carried out. Secured to the opposite sides of the truck frame 1 and to the intermediate bar 2 are two sets of laterally extending brackets 3, the brackets of each set being disposed in horizontal alignment and the respective sets spaced apart vertically,

to constitute journal bearings for'the supports of eight lower or female mold sections" 20. Each bracket 3 is providedat each of its outer ends with a generally U-shaped bearing 4 provided with oppositely disposed set screws 5--5, the purpose of which will be explained hereinafter.

Each lower mold section 20 is preferably of the standard size and form employed in the casting of pottery ware of this particular type, the mold section being .cast

from plaster of Paris or other suitable por-fl ous material adapted'to extract the water from the slip. As molds of this character are quite fragile and. liable to. be damaged by rough handling, special means for supporting each mold element 20. is provided, said means comprising two skeletonized cast metal end frames 8, which conform generally to' the contour of the ends of the molds, each ofsaid end frames being provided with angularly disposedflanges 11, which underlie the bottom of the mold section, the two frame members being firmly secured or clamped-to the'molds by tierods 14 passing through cars 15 formed integral with the frames 8, as more particularly illustrated in Fig. 3. The central section of each frame is provided with a recess 9, in

15 which is pivoted a cam hook 16, which latter'serves as the means for locking the two mold sections together, as will be explained. Projecting laterally from the outer face 'of each frame member 8 is a journal pin or pintle 17, which engages the journal bearing 4 in the corresponding bracket 3, the journal 17 resting on the bottom of the bearing and being adjusted horizontally in the bearing by the set screws 5, this horizontal adjustment of the bearings of the lower molds being necessary to so position the lower mold section as to permit the upper mold section to register accurately therewith. In casting relatively flat or shallow hollow pottery ware of this general character, it is necessary that the mold be inclined slightly from the horizontal, so that the slip in the casting operation will run from-the higher portion of the mold to thelower portion and completely fill the mold. In order to fix the inclination of the lower mold sections; 20 with relation to the horizontal, the supporting frames 8 are each provided with lateral in e gral lugs" 12, which engage the up er edges of the brackets 3 and hold the m dld sections in proper position, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3. Said frames are also provided with lugs 13 near their forward edges, which are adapted to engage the lower edges of the brackets, when the lower mold sections are reversed in the dumping operation. The journals 17 are located forward of the longitudinal axis of each mold section 20, so that the predominance of the weight of the mold section and its supportin frame is toward the rear and normally olds the mold section in the position illustrated in Figs/1 and 2 with the lugs 12 engaging the brackets 3.

through the body thereof to receive a shaft 24, the outer end of the bore being countersunk or recessed, as illustrated at 25 in Fig. 5, to prevent fracture of the material of the mold section due to bending or buckling of the supporting rod 24. Each of the upper mold sections '21 is pivotally supported by the rod or shaft 24 in a U-shaped frame 22, which, in turn, is pivotally mounted on a cross rod 23 which extends horizontally across the mam frame 1 and is secured to the latter by suitable nuts. Two of these cross rods are provided, each supporting four'of the frames 22 in which the individual upper mold sections are mounted. The shaft 24 of each uppermold section is located slightly to the rear of the-longitudinal axis of the mold section, so that the latter tends to tip Y forward and downward in its supporting frame, but is normally restrained by an angular lug or detent 26 secured to the middle-of the horizontal member'of the frame 22. transversely in its supporting frame, the necessary adjustment being effected by means of collars 25 on the shaft 24, the said collars being locked to the shaft by set screws. The longitudinal adjustment of the upper mold member 21 in its supporting frame 22 and the fore and aft adjustment of thelower member 20 by means of the set screws 5 in the journal bearings .4, permit the relative adjustment of the two mold sections to cause the same to-register accurately when they are brought together for the casting operation. The relation of the swinging frame 22 to the pivotal support of the lower mold section 20 is such that, when the frame and the upper mold section carried thereby is swung downward to the dotted position shown in the lower portion of Fig. 2, the upper mold section 21 will register accurately with the lower mold section before the frame 22 completes its downward movement, which latter is finally arrested by the lug or detent 26 engaging-a recess 27, in the forward upper edge of the lower mold section 20. I Y I Secured to the side members of the frame 1 are brackets 30, preferably formed of castings having the configuration shown in Fig. 6 with a central hollow projection 31 engaging the recess or channel portion of the side member .of frame 1 and having an inwardly extending rib or lug 32. The outer ends of the brackets are provided with holes 34, which are engaged byv studs 35, which constitute the pivots of hooks 33, the outer ends ofwhich are adapted to engage the horizontal members of the supporting frames 22 and hold the latter and the upper mold sections therein in retracted posi- The mold member 21 is adjustable i tion, during the operation of drying the casting andrcconditioning the mold parts in the special drying rooms or compartments of the pottery. The rear ends of the hooks engage the lug or detent 32, so that, when the frames 22 are swung upward, they lift the hooks and are ultimately caught behind the latter. To release the frames 22 to permit the latter to be moved. downward, only to lift the individual;

it is necessary hooks.

It will be particularly noted that the apparatus, 'as described, involves relativelyfew and simple parts, which are made either of standard stock forms of commercial. iron or steel or of relatively rough castings, which require but a minimum of machining or finishing, and the mold sections being of usual standard forms and materials, the

will insure a minimum loss of ware due to the difficulties and defects inherent in the manual operations heretofore exclusively 'employed in fabricating relatively heavy pieces of pottery ware by'castingthe same from slip. The'mold sections, when properly matched, assembled and adjusted on the trucks, are left in situ'" until they are worn out or so far damaged as to prevent further use, so that each truck constitutes a complete installation in which 'all of the preliminary operations incident to the fabrication of ware of this character, are performed, said operations including 'the pouring of the slip into the molds, the preliminary drying of the castings to permit the upper or core section of the mold to be withdrawn, the secondary drying of the tastings while the latter are supported in the lower mold sections, the reconditioning of the mold sections as to humidity, and the final dumping of the castings from the lower mold sections In carrying out these operations, the por- "tions of the upper mold sections, which engage the lower mold sections, are dusted and each of the upper mold sections is swung down into registry with the mating lower mold section, after releasing the hooks 33. The two mold sections are then securely locked together by swinging the hooks 16 on the lower mold sections over the shafts 24 of the upper mold sections, as illustrated in dotted lines in the lower portion'of Fig. 1. When the respective molds have been thus assembled and looked together and thetruck brought to the pouring station, the

individual molds are charged with slip, in

the manner disclosed in-my copending application Serial No. 749,490, filed of even date herewith, the slip being delivered to the individual molds by a flexible hose con;-

nected with supply piping to an overhead tank' containing the properly conditioned slip. The forward. and downward inclination of the molds-causes the slip to com-' pletely fill the entire mold cavity, as will be understood. After the pouring operation has been'completed, the truck containing the filled molds is moved to a section of the pottery or factory where the air is conditioned as to temperature and humidity to effect a preliminary drying of the castings in the closed molds, which will permit of the upper mold sections being separated and swung upward and backward to the retracted position illustrated in Fig. 1. This operation is facilitated by the particular means for mounting the upper moldsection. The Workman engages'the horizontal member of frame 2 and lifts the frame with a jogging motion, through a slight distance, which has the effect of causing the detent 26 to strike v the under face of the forwardedge of the upper mold section slight taps or blows 'suflicient to jar the upper mold section loose fromthe casting; After the upper sections of the molds have been Withdrawn, they are immediately dusted, while "they are still a quite wet from the moisture absorbed from the casting. The trucks are then moved to a secondary. drying and conditioning room or section, where the atmosphere is regulated as to heat and moisture content to eifect such drying'of the castings, Without danger of impairment of the latter and, when this secondary drying has been accomplished, the trucks are then moved to the dumping position where the partially dried'castings are removed from the lower moldsections. The dumping operation performed by swinging the lower mold section on'its journals 17 until the mold section .is inclined forwardly from the vertical, when, as a general rule, the casting will drop out of-the mold into the hand of the operator, but should the casting tend to stick to the mold section, the latter is revolved still further until the lugs 13 on the forward portion of the mold section sup porting frame come into contact with the lower edge of thebrackets 3, as illustrated in the upper part of Fig. 2. The impact ofthe lugs 13 against the bracket-willjar the casting loose and permit the same to be readily removed from the mold.

Inasmuch as the mold sections have been properly conditioned as to humidity or moisture content in the secondary drying section, the truck, after the dumping operation has been effected, may be run back immediately to the casting station where the separated mold sections are again brought into registry and the casting and sequential operations repeated in proper order. What I'claim isz,

I 1. Apparatus for casting pottery ware pivoted in said frame. and adapted to befrom slip comprising a portable support, a mold section pivoted thereon for rotary movement from charging to dumping position, a frame pivoted to said support above the mold section, and a second mold section pivoted in said frame and adapted to be swung into and out of engagement with the first mold section by the movement of said frame.

2. Apparatus for casting pottery ware from Sllp comprising a portable support, a mold section pivoted thereon for' rotary movement from charging to dumping position, a frame pivoted to said support above the mold section, a second mold section swunginto and out of engagement with the first mold section by the movement of said frame, and means for locking the mold sections in engaging relation.

3. Apparatus for casting pottery ware from slip comprising a portable support, a mold section pivoted thereon for rotary movement from charging to dumping posi-' tion, a frame pivoted to said support above the mold section, a second mold section pivoted in said frame and adapted to be swung into and out of engagement with the first mold section by the mow ement of said frame, and means for adjusting the pivot support of the first mold section to secure registry of the two sections. I

4. Apparatus for casting pottery ware from slip comprising a portable support,

a mold section journalled on a horizontal axis on said support, a frame pivoted on said support above said mold-section, a second mold section journalled on a horizontal axis in'said frame, a detent on the frame for limiting the movement of the second mold section relatively to the frame,

and means for effecting relative adjustment of theaxes of rotation of the mold sections to effect proper registry of the sections.

5. Apparatus for casting pottery ware from slip comprising a truck, a lower mold section pivoted on a' horizontal axis on said truck, a frame pivoted to said truck above the mold section, an upper mold section mounted on a horizontal axis in said frame and adapted to be -swung into and "out of engagement with the lower mold section by w the movement of said frame, means for locking the mold sections in engaging relation, andmeans for locking the frame and upper section in retracted position. I

'6. Apparatus. for casting pottery ware from slip comprising atruck, a lower mold section pivoted on a horizontal axis on said truck, a frame pivoted to said truck above the mold section, an upper mold section mounted on a horizontal axis in said frame and adapted to be swung into and out of engagement with the lower mold section by the movement of said frame, means for locking the mold sections in engaging relation, means for locking the frame and upper section in retracted position, and means for adjusting the axis of the lower mold to effectaccurate registry of the mold sections.

7. Apparatus for casting pottery ware from slip comprising a truck including a rectangular frame having a wheeled suspension from an overhead trackway, horizontal brackets on the side bars of said frame having journal bearings thereon, a

lower mold section journalled in said beartogether, and means for locking the secondary frame and upper mold section in retracted position.

8; Apparatus for casting pottery ware from slip comprising a truck including a rectangular frame having a wheeled suspension from an overhead trackway, horizontal brackets on the side bars of said frame hav- 1 ing journal bearings thereon, a lower mold section journalled insaid bearings, stops on said mold section to, engage the brackets to limit the rotation of the mold section in one direction and hold the section inclined to the horizontal in pouring position, a. secondary frame pivoted to the side members of the .main frame above'the brackets aforesaid, an

upper mold section pivoted on a horizontal Y axis in said secondary frame and'adapted to be swung into and out of engagement with the lower mold section by the movement of said frame, hooks carried by the lower mold section to engage the ivot means of the upper mold section to. loc the- ,sections together, and ahook on the main frame to hold the secondary frame and upper mold in retracted position. Y 9.' Apparatus for casting vpottery ware from slip comprising a truck including a Y rectangular framehaving a wheeled suspension from an overhead trackway, horizontal' brackets on the side bars ofsaid frame having journal bearings thereon, a'

lower mold sectionjourn'alled .in said bearings, set screws in said bearings to adjust the position of the mold journals, stops on said moldsection-to engage the brackets to limit the rotation of the mold section in one direction'and hold the section inclined to the horizontal in pouring position, a secondary frame pivoted to the side members of the main frame above the brackets aforesaid, an upper mold section pivoted on a horizontal axis in said secondary frame and adapted to be swung into and out of engagement with the lower mold section by the movement of said frame, means for locking the mold sections together, and means for locking the secondary frame and upper mold section in retracted position.

10. Apparatus for casting pottery ware from slip comprising a truck including a rectangular frame having a wheeled suspension from an overhead trackway, horizontal brackets on the side bars of said frame having journal bearings thereon, a lower mold section, a clamping frame for said section having journals thereon engaging the bearings in said brackets, set screws passing laterally into said bearings to adjust the journals, a secondary frame pivoted to the side members of the main frame above the brackets aforesaid, an upper mold section, a rod passing through said upper moldand journalled inthe secondary frame, means for locking the mold sections together, and means for locking the secondary frame and upper mold section inretracted position. 11. Apparatus for casting pottery ware from slip comprising a truck including a rectangular frame having a Wheeled suspension from an overhead trackway, horizontal brackets on the side bars of said frame having journal bearings thereon, a lower mold section, a clamping frame for said section having journals thereon engaging the bearings in said brackets, set screws passing laterally into said hearings to adjust the journals, a secondary frame pivoted to the side members of the main frame above the brackets aforesaid, an upper mold section, a rod passing through said upper mold and journalled in the secondary frame, a lug on the secondary frame engaging the inner face of the upper mold section to permit relative movement of said section and from slip comprising a rectangular vertical frame, a series of pairs of mold sections mounted on opposite sides of said frame, each pair comprising horizontally pivoted sections adapted to be swung into and out of registry with each other, means for adjusting one of the sections on its pivotal supports to insure registry with the other section, means for locln'ng the sections of each pair together, and means for locking one of the sections in retracted position.

14:. Apparatus for casting pottery Ware from slip comprising a rectangular vertical frame having wheeled suspension means attached to its top to engage an overhead trackway, horizontal brackets extending laterally from the vertical members of the frame, lower mold sections adjustably journalled in said brackets on each side of the frame, auxiliary frames pivoted between the vertical members of the main frame, complementary'mold sections pivoted horizontally in said auxiliary frames, means for locking the sections of each pair to ether, and means for locking the auxiliary frames and the 'mold sections carried thereby in retracted position. T

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

EDWARD s. LEA. 

